Modern Witchcraft

We all know what witches are in folklore and mythology: sometimes the bad guy, sometimes the benevolent guardian, most times a female figure working to her own designs. We also have various cultural touchstones to define them in the past: medicine women, diviners, prophetesses, midwives. But what are they today? As a professional witch myself, I thought I would take on the task of demystifying the term.

I work at a witchcraft shop and come into contact with a lot of different people who find themselves somewhere on the sliding scale of witchcraft. I will admit, before joining this business, I was triggered to no end by Instagram Witches. People who seemed to adopt a gothic, witchy, occult aesthetic for followers and for the 'gram without actually engaging with the practices. In the past few years, however, I have let go of that feeling. The main tenet of modern witchcraft is that so long as you are not doing harm to others, you can practice however you want. After all, social media has become, for better or worse, a main aspect of life for many people.

Part of my change in opinion stems from having to use social media at work to promote the shop. None of us want to be engaging in capitalism, but we must and so this shop needs to do certain things to survive. It is, after all, a shop. But what do we sell? Herbs? Potions? Magical instruments? Mainly that last one. You can find wands, crystals, incense, candles, and cauldrons dotted around the place. They are your basic magical instruments. Occationally you can also find locally-sourced staining sticks (for burning and cleansing a space or tools). Most of our products are pieces of art or crafts made by local artists and creators. Ultimately, it's a third space for a lot of people where they can come, look at the art, and not feel pressured to buy anything. Everyone who works there with me is an artist of some kind or other.

There is a general witchy vibe and aesthetic that comes from symbols, motifs, and practices dating back hundreds of years. Tarot cards, cats, bats, snakes, plants, planets, stars, and so many other things come from folkloric practices and beliefs. These aren't images or iconography that are included simply because they look cool. They are associated with different ideas and labelled as "spooky" because of the people who have been engaging with them for centuries.

Our shop also holds workshops in traditional crafts. This is the part of the organization that I am involved in as a workshop instructor. I teach classes in broom-making, leather-bound book-binding, drop spindle spinning, weaving harvest favors, making pendulum boards, and more. Each one of these crafts has roots in the land and in ancient practices. People participate in these workshops as a way to engage with their witchcraft in a form more meaningful than just consuming products. They come away with a skill and a little bit of history about that skill.

I keep mentioning a practice, but not defining it. Modern witchcraft is mainly about setting intentions and performing rituals. It's about doing things to bring your mind into focus with a goal or a challenge to overcome. There are infinite ways that modern witches can engage in their practice. Perhaps it's creating an altar, astrology, journaling, reading tarot cards, cooking, spell work, or gardening. Focus is key here, not necessarily the exact actions or objects used. A pendulum made from a ring tied to a piece of your hair will work just as well as a crystal one bought from the store.

There's no dogma or set of rules for how witchcraft is performed. Some people have ways that they do it, that's all. So long as no one is being harmed, you have free rein to practice how you will. A note here, however, about cultural appropriation. To me, taking a practice from a historically oppressed culture for your own practice, especially without understanding its meaning to that culture IS doing harm to others. It's why we don't sell Palosanto or white sage at the witch shop. Instead, we offer saining sticks of indigenous Scottish sage, grown within a few miles of the shop itself. A responsible and inclusive witch does their research.

Mainly, witchcraft is about celebrating the connection between the land and the seasons of the year. The circle of life brings all abundance and scarcity. In the modern world, there is a huge disconnect between our lives and the natural world. It's part of the reason why we can enact such outrageous ecological destruction without a second thought. By slowing down and celebrating those changes in season, you become more mindful of our place in the world. It's not at the top, there is no top. It's a complex tapestry and we are just one thread.

There's still a bit of hesitation when it comes to engaging with witchcraft. It's understandable. There is ridicule, confusion, and fear still very much associated with witchcraft. I am lucky to live in a place where I can practice without fear. But encourage others, if they are interested, to start doing some research. Read some books. Look into your own culture. Look to the natural world around you. Slow down. Get offline.

[originally posted to Patreon on 11/5/26]